Essendon, AFL consider voluntary suspensions for players

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan suggested the Essendon players facing show-cause notices from ASADA for their involvement in the 2012 supplements saga could seek voluntary suspensions that could allow them to play finals and return to the AFL as early as round one next season.

The scenario was discussed by Essendon chairman Paul Little last Thursday in a meeting with the AFL boss.

Paul Little: "A number of things were discussed, but no offer was put to the club concerning any arrangements about players making admissions in return for agreed sanctions." Photo: Supplied

Little is understood to have taken the voluntary penalty option to his board on Thursday night, but no decision regarding any suspension has been made by Essendon.

While both parties on Monday night were vehemently denying suggestions a deal has been placed on the table, it is believed McLachlan explained to Little that the outcome of a "provisional suspension" could prove the circuit-breaker the Essendon chairman has been openly seeking in the saga.

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After the three-day hearing in the Federal Court this month challenging the legitimacy of the joint AFL-ASADA inquiry, Little said the club "was looking for a circuit-breaker".

The option of a voluntary suspension was not taken by Cronulla players in the NRL who have admitted they were unwittingly administered performance-enhancing substances. They will serve a total game suspension of just three matches.

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First reported in The Age on June 13, the voluntary suspensions option comes under the AFL competition anti-doping code which states that if a player voluntarily accepts a provisional suspension in writing from the AFL and thereafter refrains from competing, the player shall receive a credit against any period of ineligibility which may ultimately be imposed.

An anti-doping officer working in the area of Olympic sport told The Age in June that he would be "surprised" if AFL footballers had not taken the option confidentially or at least considered the strategy.

The McLachlan-Little meeting preceded a report in Fairfax Media on Friday suggesting ASADA had put forward a deal to the AFL and the 34 past and present Essendon players issued with show-cause notices and facing potential six-month suspensions.

Both McLachlan and ASADA denied a deal had been tabled.

The Essendon board has not yet formally discussed the outcome of a voluntary stand-down of its players, several of whom have left the club but all of whom are still being represented by Queen's Counsel David Grace.

Little said in a statement on Monday night that he and McLachlan had "met and discussed a range of topics and as part of that discussion we talked about various issues concerning our players".

"A number of things were discussed, but no offer was put to the club concerning any arrangements about players making admissions in return for agreed sanctions."

Speaking on Channel Seven's Talking Footy on Monday night, McLachlan denied he had specifically discussed player sanctions with Little.

"I think people understand that there is a process that has to play out there and despite, as I understand it, reports in the media tomorrow, we are completely distanced from that and are going to let that play out. That will be what it will be."

He said he had met with Little last Thursday and that they had talked about a range of issues, "none of which were about anything to do with Essendon players taking sanctions — or they should take sanctions — or any firm thing".